Dr Rajneesh Kumar Sharma
Dr (Km) Ruchi RajputRadiation describes a process in which energetic particles or waves travel through a medium or space. It is a form of energy that comes from a source and travels through space and may be able to penetrate various materials.

Types of Radiation
1. Ionizing radiation

a. Alpha

b. Beta (+/-)

c. Neutron

d. X-ray

e. Gamma

2. Non-ionizing radiation

a.Neutron radiation

b.Electromagnetic radiation

i. Visible light

ii. Infrared

iii. Microwave

iv. Radio waves

v. Very low frequency (VLF)

c. Extremely low frequency (ELF)

d. Thermal radiation (heat)

e. Black body radiation

Non ionizing radiation : Light, radio, and microwaves are types of radiation that are called nonionizing.

Ionizing radiation
It is produced by unstable atoms. Unstable atoms, called as radioactive isotopes, differ from stable atoms because unstable atoms have an excess of energy or mass or both. Radiation can also be produced by high-voltage devices.

Late effects : The effects which are even seen long after exposure or after treatment of acute radiation are called late effects of radiation.

Acute Radiation Side Effects

Radiation Nausea- It may occur during acute exposure.

Hair Loss- It frequently occurs.

Fatigue / Malaise- These are almost always seen.

Low Blood Count- Reduction in certain elements of the blood is often seen following radiation. This results from radiation exposure of bone marrow, and to a lesser extent, direct damage to lymphocytes in the blood stream and lymph nodes.

The white cell count will be reduced, particularly the lymphocyte count, and the number of platelets will be reduced. These drops are enough to cause clinical problems.

Organ Specific Side Effect SymptomsLocalized reactions will occur in any tissues exposed to radiation. Acute reactions result from radiation of skin, mucous membranes and accessory glands.

Skin : Radiation a reaction may develop which progresses through erythema to dry desquamation and moist desquamation.

Mucous Membranes Wherever mucous membranes are included in a radiation field similar reactions will be experienced: Whether in the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, trachea, bowel, bladder or rectum, mucositis may develop.

As with the skin, the mucosa is reddened at first but then may be covered with a plaque-like fibrin similar to crusting of the skin. The mucous membrane remains moist and the surface covered by fibrin until the underlying mucosa is healed, when the fibrinous plaque is lost and the reaction healed.

There may be discomfort and dysphagia or cough, hoarseness and tracheitis, or dysuria and frequency, or diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

Accessory Glands : The acute effects of radiation will be felt by accessory glands producing saliva and mucous for example. This leads to a degree of stickiness, leading to oral discomfort, dryness and change in taste, irritating cough and discomfort, and urinary or bowel symptoms.

Late Radiation Side Effects : The late effects of radiation treatment develop gradually over several months or years. These results are often disastrous and treatment extremely difficult.

Scarring : Radiation results in increased connective tissue, fibrosis and scarring often associated with atrophy of accessory tissues. This leads to some increased rigidity of tissues, less suppleness and less resistance to injury.

In addition, the walls of small blood vessels may be thickened and distorted, leading to reduction in blood supply to some tissues.

Carcinogenicity : Radiation is one of the causes of cancer. Very rarely leukemia may result some five to twenty years after radiation exposure, due to bone marrow cells being damaged during radiation.

Genetic EffectsExposure of the gonads to radiation increases the risk of abnormal mutations and genetic changes. Most chromosome damage from radiation results in a failure of conception and not an abnormal child. Even if both parents have been exposed to radiation, the risks of abnormal children being produced are so small as to be almost negligible. Late genetic effects in the individual are much less important than the increased risk of inducing cancer or the late vascular changes produced by radiation.

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